Timber clamp for concrete construction



June 22 1926. 1,590,033

- J. w. KEFFER TIMBER CLAMP FOR CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 10.1925 iii Patented June 22, 1926.

UNITED STATES 1,590,633 PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH W. KEFFER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TIMBER CLAMP FOR CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed September 10, 1925. Serial 1T0. 55,492.

This invention relates to clamps for squaring up columns made ofseparable sides, especially such columns employed in concreteconstruction.

The object of the invention is to provide a clamp which is very rapid inaction and which will square such columns as accurately as required forthe work in hand without the use of external tools.

The invention consists in mechanism capable of attaining the fore pingand other objects; which can be easily and cheaply made; which is highlyefficient in operation and is not readily liable to get out of order.

More particularly the invention consists in numerous features anddetails of construction which will be hereafter more fully set forth inthe specification and claims.

Referring to'the drawings, in which like numerals represent the sameparts throughout the several views: 7

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a column used in concrete work beingsquared by the mechanism of this invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view at approximately the front center of Figure 1 ofthe squaring mechanism proper, certain parts being shown in section. I

Fi re 3 is a side, detail view on the irre ii line 33 of Figure 2.

igure 4 is a side detail view on the irregular line 4-4 of Figure 2.igure 5is a central, sectional detail view on the line 5-5 of Fi re 2.

In the column whic is to be squared, shown in- Figure 1, there are fourwooden sides 12-14= and 16 placed in the form of a conventionalrectangle whose corners are to be squared by the mechanism of thisinvention. The mechanism for accomplishing this purpose consists in foursubstantially identical metal bars 20, arranged in pairs, the bars ofeach pair being pivotally connected together by bolts or rivets 22, suchpivotal connections bein at two opposite diagonal corners of the co umnto be squared, as clearl shown in Figure 1.

Each ar 20 at its free em. away from its pivotal connection 22 isrovided with a multiplicity of wedge receiving perforations 24:, adaptedto be entered by some one of a number of substantially identical wedges26, provided for use in the mechanism.

Slidably freely along the end of each bar 20 which is away from pivot22, viz: the free end of the bar and over the perforations 24, is ablock, specifically a metal casting- 28, provided with a multiplicity ofwedge receiving perforations adapted to receive one of the wedges 26heretofore referred to. Each block 28 is retained upon its particularbar 20 by an end sto rivet 32 which prevents the block from sli ing oilfrom the free end of the bar.

The wedge receiving perforations 24 in a given bar 20 are spaced apart,one from another, distances which are different fromthe spaces betweenthe wedge receiving perforations 30 in the block belonging to thatparticular bar, see, for instance, Figures 2 and 5, with the result thatin that position of the block 28 along its bar 20, there is always onecombination of two holes 24 and 30 through which the operator can inserta wedge 26 and on driving the wedge down, secure immediately movement ofthe block with reference to the bar. The holes just referred to are alsoso arranged that on inserting a wedge in one pair of holes and drivingit down a short distance, the next adjacent pair of holes 24-30 can bebrou ht into suflicient register so that another we ge 26 can beinserted and-put into'action after which the-first inserted wedge can beremoved.

In the operation of the device, two pairs of bars 20 are arranged aroundthe column to be squared, as shown in Figure 1, with their respective Iblocks 28 engaging each other along the preferably mitered surfaces 36formed on lugs 38 extending from adjacent blocks for the purpose ofcarrying these inner engaging mitered surfaces. The result of theconstrution just described is that when the parts are assembled asshown; in Figure 1, the wedges are applied and manipulated as indicatedin connection with the blocks 20 at a given corner where there are twooverlapping free ends 0t bars 20,

until such time as the mitered surfaces 36 of the two adjacent blocks 28contact along the entire mitered surfaces and the blocks are in theposition shown in Figure 2, when that particular corner of the columnwill be squared, i. e., assuming that the work is being done at thefront of the column as shown in Figure 1, facesl2 and 14 of the columnwill be at right angles to each other.

Until the mitered surfaces 36 are brought into contact as described, theoperator ma nipulates the wedge on one bar 20 or the other bar 22 as hesees is necessary in order to accomplish the desired result of bringingthe two abutting mitered surfaces 26 into engagement with each other forthe purposes described.

By virtue of the fact that at least one wedge can always be inserted insome combination of holes 24-30 in every posit-ion of a given block 28on its bar 20 and that if a comparatively long movement of the block 28on its bar 20 is required before squaring is effected, a second wedgecan be inserted in the adjacent combination of perforations 2-1-30 inthat block and bar, the operator can on assembling the bars 20 around acolumn bring the column to squared condition much more rapidly than hasbeen possible with prior devices and the contacting of the miteredsurfaces 36 throughout their length instantly advises the operator whenthe result is desired, thus increasing the rapidity of completing thework of squaring the column.

Each block 28 is provided with means, specifically ears 50 and 52overlapping the respective bars 20 with which it contacts so that thebars 20 intersecting adjacent to it are prevented from moving verticallyaway from each other.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim' as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In mechanism of the class described, a pair of elongated membersintersecting each other, engageable with sides of a column to beadjusted, a block slidable on each of said intersecting members,engageable with the other block on a surface angular to the lengths ofthe intersecting members and means independently forcing each blockalong its intersecting member until said blocks engage along theirsurface of contagt with resulting positioning of the column s1 es.

2. In mechanism of the class described, a pair of elongated membersintersecting each other, engageable with sides of a column to beadjusted, a block slidable on each of said intersecting members,engageable with the other block on a surface an lar to the lengths ofthe intersecting mem ers, and a wedge independently forcing each blockalong its intersecting member until said blocks engage along theirsurface of contact with resulting positioning of the column sides.

3. In mechanism of the class described, a pair of elongated membersintersecting each other, engageable with sides of a column to beadjusted, a block slidable on each of said intersecting members,engageable with the other block on a surface angular to the lengths ofthe intersecting members, and a wedge passing through selectedcombinations of perforations provided for it in the adjacent block andintersecting member, independently forcing each block along itsintersecting member until said blocks engage along their surface ofcontact with resultin positioning of the column sides.

4. n mechanism of the class described, a pair of elongated membersintersecting each other, engageable with sides of a column to beadjusted, a block slidable on each of said intersecting members,engageable with the other block on a surface angular to the lengths ofthe intersecting members, and a wedge passing through .selectedcombinations of perforations provided for it in the adjacent block andintersecting member, independently forcing each block along itsintersecting member until said blocks engage 4 along their surface ofcontact with resulting positioning of the column sides, the perforationsin each block and intersecting member being so spaced that a wedge canalways be instantly inserted through the block and intersecting member.

5. In mechanism of the class described, a-

pair of elongated members intersecting each other, engageable with sidesof a column to be adjusted, a block slidable on each of saidintersecting members, engageable with the other block on a surfaceangular to the lengths of the intersecting members, means independentlyforcing each block along its intersecting member until said blocksengage along their surface of contact with resulting positioning of thecolumn sides, and means on one of the blocks overlapping bothintersecting members, preventing their separation.

6. In mechanism of the class described, a pair of elongated membersintersecting each other engageable with sides of a column to beadjusted, a block slidable on each of said intersecting members,engageable with the other block on a surface angular to the lengths ofthe intersecting member's, means independently forcing each block alongits intersecting member until said blocks engage along their surface ofcontact with resulting positioning of the column sides, and ears on oneof the blocks overlapping both intersecting members, preventing theirsepa ration.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

JOSEPH W. KEFFER.

